Abstract
Rare earth element (REE), 143Nd/144Nd and 87Sr/86Sr analyses on a range of granulite xenoliths from kimberlite pipes in Lesotho demonstrate that useful whole rock ages can be obtained from such lower crustal material. The characteristic positive Eu-anomalies, relatively low REE abundances and large variation in Sr contents suggest that many of the xenoliths are crystal cumulates rather than residua after partial melting. They yield an Sm–Nd whole rock age of 1,400 ± 100 Myr and are unrelated to the younger magmatic rocks of the Karoo.
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Rogers, N., Hawkesworth, C. Proterozoic age and cumulate origin for granulite xenoliths, Lesotho. Nature 299, 409–413 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299409a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/299409a0
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